History of the organization of the Seventies : names of the first and second quorums, items in relation to the first presidency of the Seventies, also a brief glance at Enoch and his city

HISTORY

OF THE

Names of the First and Second Quorums.

Jtems in Relation to the JHrst ^residency of
the ^Seventies.

ALSO, A BRIEF GLANCE AT

ENOCH AND HIS CITY.

Embellished with a likeness of Joseph Smith, the
Prophet, and a view of the Kirtland Temple.

By JOSEPH YOUNG, Sen.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

PRINTED AT THE DESERET NEWS STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT.

18’78.

JOSEPH SMITH.

THE PROPHET.

HISTOEY

OP THE

Names of the First and Second Quorums.

4

Jtems in Relation to the ^irst ^Presidency of
the ^Seventies.

ALSO, A BRIEF GLANCE AT

ENOCH AND HIS CITY.

Embellished with a likeness of Joseph Smith, the
Prophet, and a view of the Kirtland Temple.

By JOSEPH YOUNG, Sen.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

PRINTED AT THE DESERET NEWS STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT.

1378.

(

9

UPB

PREFACE.

We dedicate this little work to the large body, now com-
posing the seventy Elders of the Latter-Day Saints’ Church;
and to all who ever have been members of their Quorums ;
with the hope that it may prove of interest to them and all
others who may peruse it. It is taken part from manuscript
and a portion from memory, though not so discriminately
detailed as to the individuals named in these pages, as might
be desirable. We trust, however, that it will have the merit of
saving from oblivion, and of recalling some of the important
events of our history.

JOSEPH YOUNG, Sen.
Salt Lake City, November 1st, 1878.

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2017 with funding from
Brigham Young University

*

https://archive.org/details/historyoforganizOOyou

A SCRAP OF HISTORY.

|r||lN the 8th day of February, in the year of our Lord 1835,
the Prophet Joseph Smith called Elders Brigham and
Joseph Young to the chamber of his residence, in Kirtland,
Ohio; it being on the Sabbath day. After they were seated
and he had made some preliminaries, he proceeded to relate
a vision to these brethren, of the state and condition of those
men who died in Zion’s Camp, in Missouri. He said, “Breth-
ren, I have seen those men who died of the cholera in our
camp ; and the Lord knows, if I get a mansion as bright as
‘theirs, I ask no more.” At this relation he wept, and for some
time could not speak. When he had relieved himself of his
feelings, in describing the vision, he resumed the conversation,
and addressed himself to Brother Brigham Young. Said he
to him, “I wish you to notify all the brethren living in the
branches, within a reasonable distance from this place, to
meet at a General Conference on Saturday next. I shall
then and there appoint twelve special witnesses, to open the
door of the gospel to foreign nations, and you,” said he (speak-
ing to Brother Brigham), “will be one of them.”

He then proceeded to enlarge upon the duties of their
calling. The interest that was taken on the occasion of this
announcement, produced in the minds of the two Elders
present a great sensation and many reflections ; having pre-
viously notified Brother Brigham Young that he would be
one of the witnesses, but said nothing to Joseph, until he had
exhausted much of his feelings in regard to the Twelve,
which took up some little time.

He then turned to Elder Joseph Young with quite an

2 HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIES.

earnestness, as though the vision of his mind was extended
still further, and addressing him, said : “ Brother Joseph, the
Lord has made you President of the Seventies.”

They had heard of Moses and seventy Elders of Israel,
and of Jesus appointing other Seventies, but had never heard
of Twelve Apostles and of Seventies being called in this
Church before. It was a strange saying, “The Lord has made
you President of the Seventies,” as though it had already
taken place, and it caused these brethren to marvel.

The Prophet did not say that any others would be called
to be the bearers of this message abroad, but the inference
might be clearly drawn, that this was his meaning, from the
language he used at the time.

Agreeable to his request to Elder Brigham Young, the
branches were all notified, and a meeting of the brethren in
General Conference was held in Kirtland, in the new school
house under the printing office, on the following Saturday,
February 14th, when the Twelve were appointed and or-
dained, and the Conference adiourned for two weeks.

Pursuant to this adjournment, the Conference convened
on Saturday, the 28th of that month, when the first quorum
of Seventies were appointed and ordained, under the hands of
the Prophet, his Counselors, and others.

Adjourned meetings were held from time to time, and
the second quorum of Seventies were appointed and ordained.

Names of the Presidents and Members of the First and Second
Quorums of Seventies, ordained under the hands of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, with his two Counselors, Sidney
Rigdon and Oliver Cowdery, on ' February 2 8th, 1835, in
the town of Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio.

FIRST QUORUM.

presidents. Leonard Rich,* members.

Hazen Aldrich,* Zebedee Coltrin, Elias Hutchings,*

Joseph Young, Lyman Sherman,* Cyrus Smalling,

Levi W. Hancock, Sylvester Smith. Levi Gifford,*

HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIES.

3

StephenWinchester,*
Roger Orton,*

Peter Buchannan,
John D. Parker,
David Elliot,*
Samuel Brown,
Salmon Warner,*
Jacob Chapman,
Charles Kelley,
Edmund Fisher,
Warren Parish,
Joseph Hancock,*
Alden Burdick*
Hiram Winters,
Hiram Blackman,
William D. Pratt ,*
Zera S, Cole,

Jesse Huntsman,
Solomon Angel,
Henry Herriman,

Elijah Fordham,
Hyrum Dayton,
Joel H. Johnson,
Daniel Wood,
Reuben McBride,
Jonathan Holmes,
Lorenzo D. Young,
Wilford Woodruff,
Jonathan Crosby,
Truman O. Angel,
Chauncy G, Webb,
Solon Foster ,*
Erastus Snow,
Nathan Tanner,
John Gould,
Stephen Starks,

Israel Barlow,
Jenkins Salisbury,
Nelson Higgins,
Harry Brown,
Jezaniah B. Smith,
Lorenzo Boothe,
Alexander Badlam,
Zerubbabel Snow,
Harpin Riggs,*
Edson Barney,
Joseph B. Noble,
Henry Benner,
David Evans,
Nathan B.Baldwin,
Burr Riggs,*

Lewis Robbins,*
Alex. Whitesides,
George W. Brooks,
Michael Griffith,
Royal Barney,

SECOND QUORUM.

Samuel Phelps,

Joel Me Withy,*
Selah J. Griffin,
Shadrach Roundy,*
Zera Pulsipher,*
King Follett,*
Joseph Rose,
Robert Culbertson,
John Young*
James Foster,*
Salmon Gee,
Nathaniel Millikin,
Gad Yale*

Josiah Butterfield,*
Elias Benner,

Ariel Stevens,

Libbeus T. Coons,
Willard Snow,*
Jesse D. Harmon,
Heman T. Hyde,*
Lorenzo D. Barnes,*
Hiram Stratton,
Moses Martin,
Lyman Smith,
Harvey Stanley,
AlmonW. Babbitt*
William F. Cahoon,
Darwin Richardson*
Milo Andrus,

True Glidden,
Henry Shibley,
Harrison Burgess,
Jedediah M. Grant,*
Daniel Stevens,
Amasa M. Lyman,*
George A. Smith.*

Robert Rathburn,
Giles Cook,

John E. Page,
William Tenney,*
Edmund Marvin*
Marvel C. Davis,
Almon Sherman*
Isaac H. Bishop*
Elijah Reed,*
Rufus Fisher,
Dexter Stillman,*
Thomas Gates,*
Uriah B. Powell,
Amasa Bonney,*
Ebenezer Page,
Loren Babbitt,

4

HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIES.

Levi Woodruff,
William Carpenter,
Francis G. Bishop,*
William Gould,
ShermanA.Gilbert*
William Redfield,
John Herritt*
Jonathan Hampton,*

psS~ The * at the ei

William Perry,
Milton Holmes,
James Daley,*
Arvin A. Avery,
Charles Thompson,
Joshua Grant,*
Andrew J. Squires,

Ld signifies deceased.

Levi S. Nickerson*
Edmund Durphy, jr
Henry Wilcox*
Edmund M. Webb*
William Miller ,*
Stephen Post,
William Bosley.*

HISTORICAL ITEMS

Pertaining to the organization of the Seventies, and their
Council in particular.

In February, 1835, the First Quorum of Seventies was
organized by the Prophet Joseph Smith, in Kirtland, Geauga
County, Ohio. The names of the Presidents were as fol-
lows—

Hazen Aldrich, Joseph Young, Levi W. Hancock,
Leonard Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lyman Sherman, and Syl-
vester Smith.

Six of these were ordained Presidents at the time of the
organization of the quorum. Levi W. Hancock being ab-
sent, his place was held vacant until his return.

It is here proper to remark, that it is natural in human
beings, when assuming new fields of labor for the development
of their talents and abilities, that they seek to ascertain the
bounds of their prerogative. This was very forcibly illus-
trated by the different organizations of the priesthood at that
time. Some of the High Priests and a number of the Seven-
ties introduced a question, as to which is the greatest among

HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIES. 5

them, the Seventies or the High Priests. Their discussions
continued to increase, with so much warmth that it amounted
to jealousy.

At length it attracted the notice of the Prophet. Both
parties asserted their claims of pre-eminence to his father,
who took so much interest in the question that he referred it
to his son Joseph to decide, and the Prophet called a council
for that purpose.

The council was called together in the month of Novem-
ber, 1835. After it was assembled he asked the newly-organ-
ized quorum if any of their number had been ordained to
the High Priest’s office, previous to their ordination as Seven-
ties. It was not ascertained how many from the Seventies’
quorums had previously been ordained High Priests; five out
of the seven Presidents however, acknowledged that they were
High Priests before they were ordained Seventies. These were
Hazen Aldrich, Leonard Rich, Zebedee Coltrin, Lyman Sher-
man and Sylvester Smith. Accordingly, the Prophet invited
them to take their places in the High Priests’ quorum again,
which was complied with, thus leaving Joseph Young and
Levi W. Hancock in the council* He thought that this was
the best way to settle the difficulty and remove all feelings,
without deciding the question as to which was the great-
est.

A few weeks after this a new second selection was to be
made ; the Prophet met Eider Joseph Young, and said : “ Bro.
Joseph, we have taken five of your council away, but will sup-
ply their places with others.” And he appointed the following
brethren, viz., Elders James Foster, Josiah Butterfield, John
Gould, John Gaylord, Daniel S. Miles and Salmon Gee.

Shortly after this the Prophet met Joseph Young again,
and told him six brethren, instead of five, had been chosen to
fill the vacancy in the council of the Seventies, at the same
time requesting him to see Bro. John Gould, and signify to
him the desire of the Prophet to have him placed in the
High Priests’ Quorum. Bro. Gould complied with the wishes
of the Prophet, and he was ordained a High Priest. When

6 HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIES.

Bro. Levi W. Hancock returned, he was ordained a First
President of the Seventies, and took the position assigned
him in the council in the fall of 1835.

This council stood intact until the month of May,
1838. The Prophet had departed from Kirtland and
had journeyed as far as the State of Missouri, the place of his
destination, the previous year. The brethren in Kirtland re-
ceived a message from him, giving all the councils of the
priesthood, remaining in that place, instructions to have them
filled up. At this time the council of the Seventies convened
for this purpose. Elders Salmon Gee and John Gaylord were
absent from the council, but sent word that they wished to
be excused from any further services in the council. Conse-
quently, pursuant to their request, they were excused and
were dropped by the council, and Zera Pulsipher and Henry
Herriman were chosen in their places, and were ordained
First Presidents and members thereof.

This organization took the lead in the “ Kirtland Camp,”
in their journey to Missouri, where they remained until the
winter of 1838 and 1839, at which time they were driven with
the Saints from the State, by mob violence, and the destruc-
tion of life and the loss of much of their property. The
Church located in Hancock Co., Illinois, in 1839, where they
built the city of Nauvoo. At this place a Conference of the
Church was held, in the Spring of 1840.

During this period the Prophet called together the coun-
cil of the Seventies, and gave them instructions, for the pur-
pose of organizing new quorums. Some of its members were
not present at the council. Among those absent was James
Foster. It appears that he had settled in Jacksonville, Mor-
gan Co., in the State of Illinois, and had no direct communi-
cation with his brethren. It was reported, however, that he
had lost his faith ; that he took sick and died. He was born
April 1st, 1775, and died December 21st, 1840, in the 66th
year of his age, and was buried in Morgan Co., Illinois, near
the Illinois Kiver.

Elder Albert P. Rockwood succeeded Bro. Foster in the

HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIES. 7

Presidency of the Seventies, and was ordained to that office
during the April Conference, in 1845.

Elder Daniel S. Miles was in the council of the Seven-
ties, as one of the First Presidents, five or six years. He was
a man of good faith ; constant in his attendance at the meet-
ings of the council, until the time of his death, which oc-
curred at quite an advanced stage of his life. He died in
Hancock Co., Illinois.

The vacancy occasioned by his death was filled by Elder
Benjamin L. Clapp.

Elder Josiah Butterfield retained his standing as one of
the First Presidents of the council until a misunderstanding
arose between himself and the Prophet. There being no defi-
nite terms of reconciliation between them, he lost his confi-
dence, in consequence of which he absented himself from the
meetings of the council, and was dropped, under the presump-
tion that he would not retain his standing therein. He left
Nauvoo, removed to California, and died in Monterey Co., in
that State, in the month of April, 1871.

The vacancy occasioned thereby was filled by Elder
Jedediah M. Grant, who was subsequently ordained a First
President of the Seventies, in Salt Lake City.

In the year 1846 the Church was again driven from Illi-
nois. Being disinherited of their homes, the Saints fled to
the valleys of the Pocky Mountains, which flight was accom-
plished in the year 1847 ; and in a few years those who lin-
gered succeeded in reaching the body of the Church.

Upon the demise of President Willard Richards, a va-
cancy occurred in the First Presidency of the Church. El-
der Jedediah M. Grant was selected by President Brigham
Young, and ordained to fill the office, as his Second Coun-
selor, leaving also a vacancy in the council of the Seventies,

Elder Horace S. Eldredge succeeded Jedediah M. Grant,
and was ordained a First President in the council of the Sev-
enties in the year 1855.

Elder Benjamin L. Clapp, after living some years in Salt
Lake City, removed his family to Ephraim, Sanpete County.

8 HISTORY OF THE SEVENTIES.

He had some difficulty with Bishop Warren S. Snow of that
place, who preferred a charge against him before his brethren
of the council of Seventies. An investigation of his case was
had before that body, and by instructions of President Brig
ham Young he was dropped from his position in the council.
He removed to California, and settled in that State until his
death. He died with a settled conviction of the truth of the
latter-day work.

Elder Jacob Gates filled the vacancy occasioned by the
removal of Elder Clapp, and was ordained a First President
in the council of the Seventies during the Fall Conference of
1862.

Elder Zera Pulsipher transcended the bounds of his priest-
hood in the ordinance of sealing, for which he was cited to
appear before the First Presidency of the Church, and was
dropped, by the instructions of President Brigham Young.
He was subsequently ordained a Patriarch.

Zera Pulsipher was born June 24th, 1789, in Rocking-
ham, Windham County, Vermont; he moved to Kirtland in
1835, and was ordained a First President of the Seventies in
the latter part of January, 1838 ; he moved with the Saints
to Missouri, and from thence to Nauvoo, and came with the
Church to the valleys of the mountains, and died in full faith
of the Gospel, at Hebron, in Southern Utah, January lst?
1872, aged 82 years, 6 months, and 8 days.

Elder John Van Cott was called to fill the vacancy occa-
sioned by the removal of Elder Zera Pulsipher, and was or-
dained one of the First Presidents of the Seventies.

The foregoing is a short history of the First Presidents of
the Seventies, from the first organization until the present
time. The council now stands as follows:

Joseph Young, sen., Levi W. Hancock, Henry Herri-
man, Albert P. Rockwood, Horace S. Eldredge, Jacob Gates,
John Van Cott.

KIRTLAND TEMPLE.

ENOCH AND HIS CITY.

2B^N0CH, the seventh from Adam, stands among the great-
^3 est spirits of antiquity, and foremost among those whom
the Lord declared should be his rulers. One of the mightiest for
the work he was destined to perform. Predisposed from his
infancy to accept of everything that was revealed from God ;
and it being instinctively incorporated in his very nature to
be eligible to every divine manifestation, he finally grew to
be a God in humanity, and he received this testimony from
his heavenly Father that he pleased Him.

We read, from modern revelations given through Joseph
Smith the Prophet, that Enoch was born in the 622d year of
the world ; was 25 years old when ordained under the hands
of Adam, and was blessed (by God) at the age of 65. He
walked with him 365 years, making him 430 years old when
he and his city were translated. He obtained such favor with
the Lord, that at his voice the mountains shook from their
foundations, the rivers were turned out of their courses, and
the lands came up out of the depths of the sea, upon which
his enemies took refuge through fear.

The City of Enoch implies a problem, which is difficult
of solution. It stands alone, without precedent or succession
to the present period. The author is not advised that there is
any published history, or any manuscript brought forth, which
has survived the antediluvian dispensation, leaving any de-
tails of such extraordinary events as the gathering together
of a righteous people called Zion, and of the building of so
large and beautiful a city. Indeed, such an one as the Lord
called “ His abode for ever.” The knowledge of such events
must therefore have been the productions of inspired men.
c

10 ENOCH AND HI8 CITY.

From these revelations it may be inferred that the dis-
ciples of Enoch were gathered together. At his suggestion
they built a city, on the site which he had selected. He had
seen the heavens opened ; had gazed upon cities that were
celestial ; had been familiar with the gorgeousness of the
heavenly mansions, and the splendor of their architecture.
Acquiring thereby a superior intelligence and that spirit of
refinement and taste, which enabled him to instruct his breth-
ren to build after the pattern of the heavenly.

The gathering of the people and the building of the
city increased and continued for a great length of time, until
it was consummated. The form, the order and the architec-
ture of the buildings of the City of Enoch, presented to the
eye a glory and splendor surpassing our sublimest conceptions
of art. The gardens, orchards and vineyards; the lawns,
shades and floral fields, partaking of the best selections of
fruits, flowers and evergreens that could be collected, from far
and near. Such had been the perfection attained by the fa-
vored persons who had listened to the voice and preaching of
Enoch, and who comprised the inhabitants of his city.

Since the period of the first acquaintance of the author
with Joseph Smith, the Prophet, he occasionally referred par-
ticularly to this subject, which transpired in the author’s hear-
ing. Once in Kirtland, and once in Nauvoo. At the former
place, in a meeting held in the year 1832, on the occasion of
Elder Brigham Young spaaking in tongues, the Prophet being
present ; it was the first time that the exercise of this gift had
come under his notice. The congregation was at the time in
a kneeling posture. As soon as Bro. Brigham had concluded
his prayer, the Prophet rose to his feet and invited them to
rise and be seated. Joseph then addressed them, and said :
“ Brethren, this tongue that we have heard is the gift of God,
for He has made it known unto me, and I shall never oppose
anything that comes from Him. I feel the spirit that Bro.
Brigham has manifested in this gift of tongues, and I wish to
speak myself in the tongue that it will please the Lord to give
me.” He accordingly spoke in what may be called an open

ENOCH AND HIS CITY. 11

and fluent language; more so than was commonly heard.
He occupied some minutes in the exercise of the gift. After
he had concluded he said, “Brethren, this is the language of
our father Adam while he dwelt in Eden ; and the time will
again come, that when the Lord brings again Zion, the Zion
of Enoch, this people will then all speak the language which
I have just spoken.”

Ten years subsequently, at Nauvoo, while naming histo-
rical incidents of antiquity, he alluded to the Church, or
Zion of Enoch, and discoursed some time upon the nature of
its organization, order and progress. He spoke with a view
of correcting the teachings of some of the elders who had
maintained the doctrine that the people of that church had
passed through the ordeals necessary to consummate the work
of complete immortality, and that they would be prepared to
enter into the presence of the Father and the Son. This
idea the Prophet took up, and revealed it in a different light —
in what may be styled a divine philosophy. He declared
of the Church of Enoch “ that they did not die ; that they
had not then gone through their last changes and greatest
refinement; and that they had, nevertheless, triumphed over
death. That the people, and the city, and the foundations of
the earth on which it stood, had partaken of so much of the
immortal elements, bestowed upon them by God through the
teachings of Enoch, that it became philosophically impossi-
ble for them to remain any longer upon the earth; conse-
quently, Enoch and his people, with the city which they oc-
cupied, and the foundations on which it stood, with a large
piece of earth immediately connected with the foundations
and the city, had assumed an aerial position within the limits
of our solar system; and this in consequence of their
faith.”

Pie further said, “that inasmuch as they did not pass through
all the refinement which was necessary, as the Lord lives,
they would return to the earth, when they and the city would
pass through the same fiery ordeals that yet await the earth •
when it shall be transformed into a sea of glass, mingled with

12 ENOCH AND HIS CITY.

fire, and their preparations for a celestial abode of the glori-
fied Saints shall be perfected.*

The reader will naturally ask, What are the keys of the
commencement of this city of Zion ? The Scriptures say, in
Paul’s address to the Saints, “Know ye not that your bodies
are the temples of the Holy Ghost ? ” and modern revelation
says, “ This is Zion — the pure in heart.” Who can doubt,
then, that Zion is within us; a temple adorned with all the at-
tributes of our Father in heaven. In that view of it, the re-
cipient thereof beholds within himself the work of his Father,
and hears the voice of His Spirit; obeys all of His com-
mandments, spiritual and temporal, without the least hesita-
tion or mental reservation. When this spirit is fully estab-
lished in the hearts of all the Saints, then there will be no idol
in the way of their progress. One word, or command, is
just as easy for them to hearken to and obey as another; and
they realize the saying, “ God is love; he that dwells in love
dwells in God, and God in him.” Then they have a Zion first
within their hearts ; a germ of an abiding inheritance upon
the new earth.

The Saints are looking for a modern Zion which shall be
after the identical order of the ancient one ; and for a time
when the Apostles, with their President at their head, will rise
up and thunder so loud, that if they do not shake the moun-
tains from their foundations, they will have the effect of shak-
ing pride and coveteousness out of the hearts of the Saints,
who will be filled with righteousness — Their only motive, the
building up of Zion; making their faith and their works,
their means and substance to bow to that end, and that only ;
and so continuing their labors in this good work, answering
to the Zion within them, and erecting and adorning temples

* Joseph Smith said, on another occasion, in the hearing of
some of the saints still surviving, that the City of Enoch would
again take its place in the identical spot from which it had been de-
tached, now forming that chasm of the earth, filled with water,
called the Gulf of Mexico.

ENOCH AND HIS CITY.

13

and mansions; building cities, and spreading abroad, until
they shall become a model of the Zion of old, built by Enoch.

Whether these designs of the Saints will be consummated
in a very short period of time, or at a “set time” still more
remote, it will and must be the fruits of their faith in the Lord
Gcd, or they will not be acknowledged as His people, accord-
ing to the revelations which He has given concerning Zion.
Taking this view of the subject, the Seventies and the Elders
of Israel will be endowed with the power of their calling, in
preaching the Gospel and gathering the people from the ut-
termost parts of the earth. Their words will be as the words
of God to the people, in strengthening their hands and cheer-
ing their hearts to persevere, until Zion is built up and per-
fected on the earth, and the Lord shall appear in his glory
and acknowledge it His abode, as He did the Zion of old.

APPENDIX.

14

THE FOLLOWING SENTIMENT

Was delivered by the Prophet Joseph Smith in an address to the
Elders , assembled in Kirtland, soon after the Seventies were
organized.

He said, “Brethren, some of you are angry with me, be-
cause you did not fight in Missouri ; but let me tell you, God
did not want you to fight. He could not organize his king-
dom with twelve men to open the gospel door to the nations
of the earth, and with seventy men under their direction to
follow in their tracks, unless he took them from a body of
men who had offered their lives, and who had made as great
a sacrifice as did Abraham.

“Now, the Lord has got his Twelve and his Seventy, and
there will be other quorums of Seventies called, who will
make the sacrifice, aud those who have not made their sacri-
fices and their offerings now, will make them hereafter.”

VOCAL MUSIC.

Man of khimself is an instrument of music ; and when the
chords of which he is composed are touched, and salute the
ear, the sounds appeal to his spirit and the sentiment to his
understanding. If the strains are harmonious, he endorses
and enjoys them with supreme delight; whether the tones are

APPENDIX.

15

from a human voice or from an instrument, they arrest his
attention and absorb his whole being.

This subject came under the especial notice of Joseph
Smith, the Prophet, who organized the first choir in the church,
and who was a constant attendant at their singing schools. He
recommended the Saints to cultivate as high a state of perfec-
tion in their musical harmonies as the standard of the faith
which he had brought was superior to sectarian religion. To
obtain this, he gave them to understand that the refinement
of singing would depend on the attainment of the Holy Spirit.
That the combined talent of the sainted compositors, when
united with those inspirations, will bring compositions of
tunes, that have their origin with the sacred choirs that sing
the new song, in the presence of God and the Lamb, who join
their symphonies with the compositors, that dwell with the
Saints on earth ; and when the music performed here, is ac-
ceptable to their spirits, they then co-operate with the choirs,
in our earthly courts.

“ When this subject is studied and sought after by the
singers of the Saints, with their whole hearts, their songs and
anthems, and their minstrelsy, will soften into celestial
melody, melt the hearts of the Saints and draw them together,
as the magnet needle is drawn to the loadstone. When these
graces and refinements and all the kindred attractions are ob-
tained that characterized the ancient Zion of Enoch, then the
Zion of the last days will become beautiful, she will be hailed
by the Saints from the four winds, who ‘ will gather to Zion
with songs of everlasting joy.’ Then Zion will be free, and
to God and the Lamb will be the glory, to Saints the bound-
less joy.”

16

APPENDIX.

By the Author.

Hark! ye heralds, hear the whisp’ring,

Of the spirit from on high;

Gently hov’ring o’er your vision,

Showing you the hour is nigh:

Chorus:

When the Gospel trump of gladness,

You will publish far and near;

And the meek who sit in sadness,

Wait to hail the Jubilee year.

To the islands and the nations,

Lo, your wayward steps you’ll bend;

Publishing your proclamations,

Sweeping earth from end to end.

Chorus — When the Gospel trump, etc.

In the cities, on the mountains,

Spirit waking trumpet blow;

Bathing in baptismal fountains,

All that will to Zion go.

Chorus — When the Gospel trump, etc.

Let not trifles e’er prevent you;

Pride, nor lust, to dim your sight;

Leaning on His arm, who sent you,

He will always guide you right.

Chorus— When the Gospel trump, etc.

Flaming heralds of salvation;

All who’re faithful shall return.

Glean the wdieat from ev’ry nation,

While the tares are left to burn.

Chorus — When the Gospel trump, etc.